Words from the Editor
Welcome to the latest edition of Lath and Plaster!
We’re thrilled to introduce our sister magazine, Here Come the Girls—a publication dedicated to the hardworking women in the plastering trade. Like Lath and Plaster, it’s completely free, available online, and run as a non-profit. In this issue, you’ll find over 20 pages packed with insightful articles and compelling stories, including your favourite sections:
🔹 Grass Roots with Bill Sargent
🔹 Under the Spotlight featuring Pargeter James Collier
🔹 Cockups and Banter—bringing you plenty of laughs
🔹 And much more!
Make sure you subscribe so you never miss an edition.
We hope you enjoy this issue! If you have a story to share and would like to be featured, please get in touch.
David Winchester Editor
Here Come The Girls
We are pleased to Launch our sister magazine, Here Come the Girls
Celebrating Women in Plastering: Inspiring Stories Here Come the Girls is a free, non-profit online magazine and the sister publication of Lath and Plaster.
Our mission is to highlight and celebrate the voices of women in the plastering industry, sharing inspiring stories of those making an impact in the field. Have a story to tell? We’d love to feature you—get in touch! Enjoy the read, and don’t forget to subscribe. It’s completely free, and you’ll receive an email notification whenever a new edition is published.
Lady Master Plasterer Dolcie Ross Keogh.
Dolcie’s journey in plasterwork began at the age of 15 when she became an apprentice under Master Plasterer Kevin Holbrook. During her apprenticeship, she trained extensively in plain and decorative plasterwork, scagliola, and gilding. In the years that followed, she honed her craft while working with Living with the Past, applying her skills to a diverse range of heritage and contemporary buildings across Ireland and Europe.
Grass roots Bill Sargent
Bill Sargent is one of the most highly regarded pargetters (also spelled pargeter) in the country. His work can be found across Suffolk, Essex, Kent, and Norfolk, covering a wide range of conservation plasterwork and pargetting
From Vision to Reality: The Shark Bag Success Story
My plastering journey began about 12 years ago when we bought our first house. It was a fixer-upper, and we were on a tight budget! That meant I had to learn some new skills fast—plastering being one of them. I was already quite handy, and I picked it up quickly. Before long, I was achieving a finish as good as any professional plasterer I knew.
Ryan Fibrous Workshop
Here at Swart Plaster Mouldings Ltd we design, plan & produce bespoke plaster mouldings such as cornice, coving, ceiling panel mouldings, arches, tailor-made to suit your needs and tastes and as well as internal lime plastering and rendering.
Under the Spotlight with Pargeter James Collier
James is a bricklayer by trade and a self-taught builder with expertise in various aspects of construction, including plastering—though he would never call himself a plasterer. His journey into plastering began in his 30s when he was running his own one-man building business, taking on a wide range of projects.
History of Plastering with Mick
Mick is an experience plasterer who has a life time in the trade from apprentice though to Head Plasterer at a college, or as referred to by colleges programme leader
Cockups and Banter Fluffy Dogs with Pink Heads
Monday, August 21st, started off as just another workday. I arrived at the office and received my job sheet, which included the address, the customer’s name and contact details, and a surveyor’s report of the damage
Preserving The Past
…Some men wyll have theyr wallys plastered, some pergetted, and whytlmed, some rough cast, some pricked, some wrought with playster of paris…
Pargeting
Pargeting, a decorative plasterwork technique, has a long and rich history dating back to ancient times. Its origins can be traced to Roman stucco work, which influenced medieval and Renaissance plastering traditions.
Masters and Freemen
The Master Plasterer Certificate recognises those who have achieved the highest level of skills in the industry over a number of years and can demonstrate excellence in the art, craft, science and practice of plastering.
Plastering Books and E books
A collection of plastering books designed primarily for plastering students these books are available in both paperback and digital formats. The series begins with Basic Plastering Skills, progresses to Plasterwork Decorative Mouldings, and for advanced learners, includes Columns, Cornices, and Curves. Paperback editions are printed on demand by the publisher, while e-books are available for immediate download.
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